Tent frame



March 15, 1960 E. H. HOSKINS TENT FRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 6,1956 Edgar Herbert Ho skins INVENTOR.

March 15, 1960 os ms 2,928,403

TENT FRAME Filed Nov. 6, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 74 68 2 Fig 6 4; '2lkh-- 26 Fig. 4

Edgar Herbert Has/rinsmmvm.

BY -m TENT FRAME Edgar Herbert Hoskins, Davis, Calif., assignor ofone-half to Thomas E. Hoskins, Grass Valley, Calif.

Application November 6, 1956, Serial No. 620,753

4 Claims. c1. 135-3 The present invention generally relates to a novelconcept in the construction of a tent and more particularly to a noveltent frame which is easily collapsible and disassembled for easytransport and storage but yet which is extremely sturdy in constructionand provides an easily assembled tent frame which is automaticallyadjusted to tents with certain variations in size and which may bemanually adjusted for substantially all size tents of the type generallyknown as an umbrella-type or pyramidal type.

One of the major problems insetting up the tent such as those used byhunters, campers or other persons is the support of the various portionsof the tent under various weather conditions and still maintain adependability as well as case of assembly and disassembly. One of theproblems encountered is the size variations of the tent itself both froma manufacturing standpoint and also from the standpoint of shrinkage andstretching or enlargements caused by change in the moisture content ofthe canvas itself. Also the tent frame must be sufiiciently strong towithstand certain wind loads and also to provide a rigidity sufficientfor support of the tent under various conditions. Accordingly, it is theprimary object of the present invention to provide a tent frame whichwill solve the above-mentioned problems connected with tentconstructions and also provide a tent frame which is extremelylightweight in construction and provided with a multiplicity of readilydetachable elements all of which may be easily assembled anddisassembled at the point of erection of the tent thus enabling the tentto be easily assembled and disassembled by a single person and whichwhen completely assembled will provide the interior of the tent with noobstructions, such as a center pole in the interior of the tent thuspermitting efficient utilization of the interior area thereof.

Other objects of the present invention will reside in its simplicity ofconstruction, extreme ease of assembly adaptation for various sizedtents and automatic adjustment for shrinkage and enlargement caused byrain or dry weather and the qualities which permit the tent frame to bereadily adapted to its particular purpose.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:'

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tent employing the tent frame of thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a detailed sectional view of the cross bar construction; I

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view of a supporting Figure 4 is adetailed sectional view of the peak post;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view of the leg taken substantiallyalong section line 5-5 of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tent frame with the tent beingshown in phantom.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numetal 10 generallydesignates the tent frame of the prestzates Paw Q cut invention whichincludes'a first cross bar generally designated by the numeral 12 and asecond cross bar generally designated by the numeral 14 each of whichincludes a depending post of leg 16 at each end thereof with each of theposts or legs 16 being identical and each of the cross bars 12 and 14being identical.

The cross bars 12 and 14 are disposed in intersecting relation with onebeing disposed immediately above the other. Each cross bar includes anelongated tubular member 18 adjustably receiving a smaller tubularmember 20 having a plurality of transverse apertures 22 receiving afastening pin 24 therethrough for eifectively adjusting the length ofthe cross bar. The other end of the tubular member 18 telescopicallyreceives a third tubular member 26 disposed in abutting engagement witha compression coil spring 28 disposed within the tubular member 18. Aplug 30 is also disposed in the tubular member 18 and is provided with aslot 32 receiving an eye 34 on the end of the spring 28 with a fastener36 extending transversely of the slot 32 and through the eye 34 forsecuring the spring 28 to the plug 30 which in turn is secured to thesleeve 18 byinwardly extending indentations 38 which effectively holdthe wood plug 34 within the sleeve 18 and prevents the spring 28 fromsliding outwardly of the sleeve 18.

The outer ends of the tubular member 20 and the tubular members 26 isprovided with an end adapter 40 which is provided with a reduced portion42 having a shoulder 44 thereon with a projecting longitudinal pin 46for reception in a grommet 48 in the tent cover which is generallydesignated by the numeral 50. On the underside of each of the adapters40 is a generally spherical projection 52 in detachable frictionalengagement with an upper tubular member 54 forming a portion of one ofthe legs 16 thus detachably connecting the legs 16 to the cross bars 12and 14 inwardly of the longitudinal pin 46 thus disposing the legs 16inwardly of the corner of the tent cover 50 and generally in contactwith the corners thereof. The spherical projection 52 and the inclinedupper edge 56 of the upper tubular member 54 will permit variation inthe angle of the legs 16 thus permitting the legs 16 to be intimatelydisposed against the inside corner of the tent cover. Inasmuch as thecross arms 12 and 14 are independent of each other, these arms mayreadily adapt themselves to various shapes of tent covers in which thegrommets 48 are arranged at the upper corners thereof. The upper tubularmember 54 of each leg 16 is slidably received in a larger tubular member58 having a spring and plug therein which is identical to that describedin connection with the cross bar 12. The lower end of the enlargedtubular member 58 receives a smaller tubular member 60 having aplurality of apertures 62 thereto for receiving the transverse fasteners64 for providing an initial adjustment of the leg 16 so that the springdisposed between the plug or block 30 in the tubular member 58 mayeffectively urge the upper tubular member 54 upwardly whereby the rubberfoot 66 will engage the bottom of the tent cover for urging the sameaway from the cross arms thus tensioning the side walls of the tentcover in such a manner that they will be maintained in a taut or un-Wrinkled condition.

Extending upwardly from the cross bars 12 and 14 is a peak pole 68incorporating in its construction a tubular member 70 telescopicallyreceiving a wooden rod 72 having a projecting pin 74 on the upper endthereof. The tubular member 70 is provided with a compression coilspring identical to coil spring 28 and designated by the same numeralwith a plug 30 being disposed therein and connected to the spring 28 inthe identical manner. An adapter 74 is disposed in the lower end of thetubular member 70'and has a generally semi-cylindrical Patented Mar. 15,1960 '3 lower surface designated by the numeral 76 forming a saddle forengagement over the upper of the cross bars and specifically forengagement with the central tubular portion: 18 thereof. AscreW-fastenerJS is providedfor securingthe adapter '74 to the plugs 30 thusretaining, the

' pea'la pole 68in position and maintaining the roofportion'of the tentcover imposition. 1

The roof portionofthe tent cover 50 includes four generally triangularmembers 80 which are joined by a grommet 82 at the peakthereof for'receiving the projecting pin 74 and an overlying closure member 84 isprovided for the grommet 82 thus providing a waterproofroof- 80. Fourside walls 86 are provided each of which are generallytrapezoidalandsubstantially equal 1 inconstruction and provided with one of the walls86 being provided with: an opening and closure therefor designated"generally by numeral 88. The side walls 86* are interconnected byabottom wall 90 together with:

as projecting flange or seam portion92 having a plurality" of eyemembers 94-for receiving the tent pegs 96 whichr-holdsthe bottom-90down.

flapping. The construction also eliminates any center pole. constructionthus providing the interior free of obstructions and the device isconstructed, of tubular metallic members of lightweight constructionsuch as. aluminumwhich rendersthe device easy to assemble and In actualpractice, the entire tent cover disassemble; maybe unrolled andthefranre assembled therewith and ready for occupancy within amatter'ofseveral minutes,

When thin tubular members are employed, a'cap 39 may be employed in theinner end of member 26 to asa sure that the spring 28 will enter the endof member 26.

It is alsocontemplated that other spring arrangements may be employed byrearranging the elements. As an example, the spring could be" disposedexteriorly of the centralmember with the outer tubular members tele:scoping over the central member.

The-foregoing'is considered asillustrative only of the principles of theinvention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadilyoccur to those skilled in the art, it isnot desired to. limittheinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described;and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents mayberesorted to, falling within the'scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed aslnew is as follows:

1. tent frame for a substantially pyramidal shaped tent cover having abottorn, upwardly extending side walls, a top and: an entranceclosure,said frame comprising a. pair of longitudinally adjustable independentcross bars: arranged in'intersecting, relation, means on each end ofeach cross bar for detachable engagement with thediagonally opposedupper corners of the tent cover, a longitudinally *adju'stab'ledepending. leg, detachably and pivotally connected to each end of each.cross bar adjacent the means for engagement with the tent cover,

said legsr adapted to engage the tent coveron the inner surface of eachcorner edge. an'd terminating in the lowercorner thereon. a: peak. poledetachably engaged with, the

upper crossbar: at the point of intersection of the: cross bars, meanson the-upper end of' the peak polefor err-- g'ag'ement with the peak thetop; or the tent cover, said-l cross bars and" legs being constructed oftelescopic members resilientlyurged outwardly for maintaining the tentcover in taut condition 'andpermitting theiframe te 4 be employed intent covers of different sizes, each end of'each cross bar includingadepending generally spheri cal projection, each of said legs having atubular upper end in detachable frictional engagement with the sphericalprojection whereby the depending legs may swivel universally in relationto the cross bars for intimate engagement'with the corners of thetentcover.

2. In a tent construction including a tent cover having.

a'bottom, upwardly converging side walls, a peaked top and an entranceclosure'in one side wall; a collapsible frame for holding said tentcovenin taut condition at all times comprising a pair of cross bars oflongitudinally adjustable construction, a depending leg adjacent eachend of each bar, means detachably and swivelly connecting. each legtothe: endof: a bar, each leg;;.being longitudinally adjustable andincluding; a' protective footon:

the lower end thereof for engagement with the: lower:

corners of the tent cover, projection means on theroutcr-i end ofeachbar forengagementwith the tent covena peak pole extending upwardly fromthe point ofi inter section of the cross bars to the peak of the tentcover,

said peak pole, each cross bar and each leg: including; longitudinallytelescopic sections withumeans locking the sections in longitudinallyadjusted position,said'cross bars and legs havingspring; means betweenadjacent sections urging said sections in. extended relation forcontinuously tensioning. all portions of the tent cover.

during size changes caused by. change in moisture cone-- tent of thetent cover material.

3; A tent frame for pyramidal: tent covers having!! bottorrn. upwardlyextending. side walls and apeaked top, onef'side wall of the tent coverhaving an entrance opening with. a closure therefor, said frameincluding. a pair of independent cross bars arranged in intersecting.relation: with the point of intersection being; disposed 7, below thecenter of the peaked top of the tent cover,,out-

wardly projecting means on: each end of each cross bar for detachableengagement withthe upper corners of the tent cover, a, dependingprojection at each end of each cross bar, an elongated legadapted toybedisposed in each corner edge of the tent cover, the lower end of thelegs engaging the bottom corners of the tent cover, the upper.

end of each leg including a tubular socket frictionally and detachablyreceiving a depending projection on'the, cross bar, said dependingprojections having rounded surfaces permitting limited swinging movementof. the legs whereby the legs may be accurately positioned in the corneredges of the. tent cover, each of said crossbarsi and legs beingsectional and: longitudinally adjustable in length,,spring. means urgingone section of each cross bar and leg outwardly thereby allowing forshrinkage and. maintaining the tent cover taut during changes in size,and a peak pole extending vertically from the point of: intersection ofthe cross bars, said peak pole being lon= gitudinally adjustable andincluding a projection for engagingthe center of the peaked top, saidpeak pole. in-

cluding a downwardly facing U-shaped saddle freely rest-. ingon theupper cross bar for detachable engagement with the upper cross: barthereby supporting, the peak;

pole from the cross bars and leaving. the area below the:

cross bars free of obstructions.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the lower. of each leg. isprovided with a rounded resilient foot-Ifor engaging the lower corner ofthe tent cover and preventingi damage to the tent cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,335,332- Hackfield Mame, rm 14Q4522 Harris Jan. 24', 19 22, 1,623,154-Abel'dlbmbi Q. Apr; 5', l27 669,778 Procter May" 15, I928 1,853,367 MaceApr. 12, 193-2" 2232,306 Baldwin Feb.- 18, 1941 2,705,966 Magary' ..u-Apr. 12, 1955"

